Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Libya Attack Emails: White House Told Of Militant Claim 2 Hours After Benghazi attack

Libya Attack Emails: White House Told Of Militant Claim 2 Hours After Benghazi attack

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Officials at the White House and State Department were advised two hours after attackers assaulted the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11 that an Islamic militant group had claimed credit for the attack, official emails show.

The emails, obtained by Reuters from government sources not connected with U.S. spy agencies or the State Department and who requested anonymity, specifically mention that the Libyan group called Ansar al-Sharia had asserted responsibility for the attacks.

The brief emails also show how U.S. diplomats described the attack, even as it was still under way, to Washington.

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